Deformable plastic dispenser



- Nov. 19, 1968 J. GOULD DEFORMABLE PLASTIC DISPENSER Original Filed May20, 1965 l/VVd'A/TOL: Jerome 6011/1 United States Patent 3,411,674DEFORMABLE PLASTIC DISPENSER Jerome Gould, Encino, Calif., assignor toDesign Properties, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation ofCalifornia Continuation of application Ser. No. 457,347, May 20, 1965.This application Mar. 1, 1967, Ser. No. 619,871 8 Claims. (Cl. 222215)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a seasoningdispenser which is formed from a pair of oppositely disposed rigid endsand a corrugated body between the ends. Holes are provided in one of theends to dispense the seasoning. The dispenser is operated by pressingthe corrugated portion. This causes the body portion to become collapsedon the corrugations and the opposite end portions to become rotated inopposite directions without deforming the end portions and withoutchanging the distance between the end portions.

This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 457,347, filed May 20,1965, now abandoned.

This application relates to a plastic dispenser. More specifically, thisapplication relates to a deformable plastic dispenser so constructedthat a compressive force on the dispenser reduces the volume within thedispenser so as to dispense a portion of the contents of the dispenserthrough an opening in one end wall of the dispenser.

The dispenser of the present invention is compressed by encircling thedispenser with one hand and squeezing the dispenser, using a normalgripping motion. With the novel construction of the dispenser, largerapid changes in volume of the dispenser follow the squeezing. Also, asthe dispenser is squeezed, not only is the volume within the dispenserreduced, but opposite ends of the dispenser rotate in oppositedirections to provide twisting motions in the dispenser. Since thedispenser is operated with one hand, and since the operator uses theentire hand rather than just the fingers, the dispenser when beingoperated has a natural feel in the hand. Also, it is possible to applymuch more pressure through the gripping motion of the hand rather thanusing only fingers. The plastic dispenser of the present invention alsohas a very pleasing, attractive and distinctive shape.

The deformable plastic dispenser of the present invention substantiallytakes the shape of a cylinder. In the particular embodiments describedin this application, the dispensensubstantially takes the shape of aright circular cylinder. The cylindrical wall, however, is formed ofcorrugated material. More specifically, the corrugations in the wall runin a diagonal direction from one end of the cylinder to the other. Theends of the dispenser are formed as rigid end walls. In a firstembodiment of the invention, the end walls are flat, and holes areprovided in one end wall so that a portion of the contents of thedispenser can be ejected from the dispenser through the holes to theoutside. In a second embodiment of the invention, one end wall of thedispenser has a domed portion with a plurality of holes in the domedportion. This allows for greater dispersion of the contents of thedispenser. Also, one end wall of the dispenser can be formed to have asmall nozzle with a very small hole so that the end wall acts as a spraynozzle. Another adaptation of the deformable plastic dispenser is tohave one end wall contain a removable portion to allow for a refillingof the dispenser. Y

The deformable plastic dispenser of the present inven- 3,41 1,674Patented Nov. 19, 1968 tion can be used for liquid materials, such asdeodorants or shampoo, or could be used for dry materials, for example,talcum powder. The invention will become clearer with reference to thefollowing drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 illustrates the operation of the invention, specifically withreference to the structure of the first embodiment shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 illustrates a modification of the invention using a domed top;

FIGURE 4 illustrates another modification of the invention using a spraynozzle top; and

FIGURE 5 illustrates a refillable dispenser.

In FIGURE 1 a plastic dispenser 10 substantially has the shape of aright circular cylinder. The cylindrical wall is formed of a series ofupwardly extending parallel ridges having side walls 12 and 14. Endwalls 16 and 18 are connected and sealed to the cylinder. As shown inFIG- URE 1, the end walls are flat. Holes 20 are placed in one end wallto allow the ejection of the contents of the dispenser. The dispenser ismade of a tough, flexible plastic material which allows the flexing ofthe cylindrical wall but provides sulficient restoring force so that thedispenser will return to its original shape.

FIGURE 2 illustrates the operation of the deformable plastic dispenserof the present invention. As can be seen in FIGURE 2, the dispenser 10is gripped in a position intermediate the end walls by the user. Thedispenser 10 is then squeezed, using a normal gripping motion of thehand, to collapse the corrugations or ridges formed in the cylindricalwall of the dispenser. The side walls 12 and 14 of the ridges arecompressed toward each other so that the normal volume of the dispenseris reduced. In addition, the compression of the dispenser producesrotation at the outer ends of the cylinder. More specifically, the upperportion of the cylinder rotates in a direction as shown by arrow 22 andthe lower end of the cylinder rotates in an opposite direction as shownby arrow 24. The double rotation of the dispenser is helpful when thedispenser is used to eject dry materials such as powders, since thedouble rotation loosens the powders within the dispenser and preventsthe powder from becoming caked in a single position. As the container isoperated as shown in FIGURE 2, a portion of the contents of thecontainer is ejected through the holes 20 in an upward! direction asshown by the lines 26, due to the rapid reduction in the internal volumeof the dispenser.

In FIGURE 3 a modification of the upper end wall of the plasticdispenser is shown which uses a domed top 100. The domed top alsoprovides a rigid end wall and includes holes 102 disposed through thedomed top. The contents of the dispenser are ejected as shown by lines104. As can be seen in FIGURE 3, the contents of the dispenser aredispersed over a much broader area than from the dispenser of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 illustrates another modification of the dispenser and shows anupper portion which has a spray nozzle 200 attached to one of the rigidend walls. This type of dispenser would be used to dispense liquidmaterials such as deodorants. A small hole 202 extends through thenozzle 200. As the dispenser is squeezed, the liquid material is forcedthrough the small hole 202 and forms a spray, as shown at 204. It willbe appreciated that the hole 202 may be made larger so as to allow forthe dispensing of heavier liquids, such as shampoos, in a steady stream.

FIGURE 5 illustrates the dispenser constructed in accordance with theinvention using a plug 300 inserted in the bottom end wall. The plug 300is designed to be removable. For example, the plug can be screwed intothe bottom portion or can snap into the bottom portion. The use of theplug 300 allows the deformable plastic dispenser to be refillable and,therefore, reusable.

Since the deformable plastic dispenser of the present invention isformed of a substantially circular cylindrical shape, it can be veryeasily grasped in one hand. It is, therefore, not necessary to use twohands, or to use only the fingers to operate the dispenser. Also, sincethe dispenser is formed with diagonally disposed corrugations or ridges,a good surface is provided for gripping the dispenser, and the dispenserwill not easily slip from the hand of the user. In addition, since thedispenser does have a good surface for gripping, it is possible for theuser to exert very strong pressure on the dispenser, and since thecollapsible corrugations or ridges allow for considerable reduction involume, the contents of the dispenser can be ejected very easily. Thedeformable plastic dispenser has been illustrated with reference toparticular embodiments, but it is to be appreciated that otheradaptations and modifications may be made. Therefore, the in vention isonly to be limited to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A deformable plastic dispenser for dispensing a particular materialhoused within the dispenser, including:

a cylinder having opposite ends and composed of flexible material havingcorrugations for-med by first creases extending linearly in a diagonaldirection along the entire distance between the opposite ends to definepeaks in the corrugations and further formed by second creases extendinglinearly in the diagonal direction along the entire distance between theopposite ends to define valleys in the corrugations with first sides ofthe corrugations sharply sloping in a first direction between the firstand second creases and with the second sides sharply sloping between thecreases in a second direction transverse to the first direction,

first and second end walls made from a relatively rigid material andspaced from each other to enclose the opposite ends of the cylinder, thecylinder being responsive to forces applied to the cylinder at positionsbetween the first and second end walls and circumferentially around thecylinder to obtain a folding of the first and second sides of thecorrugations toward one another with the first and second creases asfulcrums to obtain a reduction in the volume enclosed by the cylinderand end walls and to obtain a rotation of the first and second end wallsin opposite directions without substantially reducing the distancebetween the end walls and without deforming the end walls, and

an opening through the first end wall for dispensing the particularmaterial from the dispenser in accordance with the force applied to thecylinder.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the first end wall includes aplurality of holes.

3. A compressible flexible dispenser for dispensing a particularmaterial, including:

a pair of substantially circular end walls spaced from each other alonga central axis and made from a relatively rigid material, and

a cylindrical member having a wall interconnecting the end walls, thewall of the cylindrical member being formed of a relatively deformablematerial and being provided with series of corrugations defined by firstcorrugations having first sides sloping in a first direction and secondsides extending from the first sides and sloping in a second directiontransverse to the first direction and further formed by first creasesdefining first boundaries between the first and second sides and secondcreases defining second boundaries between the first and second sides,the first and second creases extending diagonally and linearly in aparallel relationship to one another along the entire distance betweenthe first and second end walls, the

cylindrical member being responsive to forces applied to the cylindricalmember at positions intermediate the end walls to obtain a collapsing ofthe first and second sides toward one another and a compression of thecylindrical member and rotations of each of the end walls in the pair inan opposite direction to the other end wall in the pair withoutsubstantially reducing the distance between the end walls and withoutdeforming the end walls.

4. The dispenser of claim 3 wherein one of the end walls includes adomed outwardly extending portion and additionally includes a pluralityof holes through the domed portion of the end wall.

5. The dispenser of claim 3 wherein the end walls in the pair areparallel to each other.

6. A deformable plastic container for dispensing a particular material,including:

a pair of end walls made from a relatively rigid material and disposedin spaced relationship along a central axis and having an openingthrough a first one of the end walls, and

a cylindrical member having relatively deformable properties and havinga wall interconnecting the end walls to form with the end walls thecontainer for the particular material, the cylindrical member beingprovided with a series of parallel creases extending linearly in adiagonal direction along the entire distance from one end wall in thepair to the other end wall in the pair to define corrugations, thecylindrical member being responsive to the application of compressiveforces at positions intermediate the end walls to obtain the productionof a compression of the side walls of the cylindrical member androtations of the end walls in opposite directions without substantiallyreducing the distance between the end walls and without deforming theend walls to obtain a reduction in the volume of the container for anejection of some of the particular material from the opening in thefirst end wall.

7. A deformable plastic container for dispensing a particular material,including:

a pair of end walls spaced from each other along a central axis andhaving one of the end walls formed as a spray nozzle, and

a cylindrical member having a wall interconnecting the end walls to forma container for enclosing the particular material, the wall of thecylindrical member being formed of corrugations defined by a series ofparallel fiexible upstanding creases extending in a linear direction ona diagonal basis from one end wall to the other end wall and with theupstanding creases separated by sharply sloping side walls to define thecorrugations, the cylinder being responsive to forces applied to thecylindrical member at positions intermediate the end walls to obtain afolding of the side walls toward each other on the creases as a fulcrumfor a corresponding reduction in the volume of the container and toobtain the application of forces to the particular material for anejection of some of the particular material from the spray nozzle formedin one of the end walls without substantially reducing the distancebetween the end walls and without deforming the end walls.

8. A deformable reusable plastic dispenser for dispensing a particularmaterial, including:

a cylinder having an annular surface and composed of flexible corrugatedmaterial having parallel creases extending diagonally along the annularsurface of the cylinder and defining sharply sloping side walls betweenadjacent creases,

first and second end walls enclosing the opposite ends of the cylinderand defining terminations of the creases, the cylinder being responsiveto forces applied at positions between the first and second end' wallsand circumferentially around the cylinder to 5 6 obtain a folding of theside walls of the cylinder material within the space formed by thecylinder toward one another on the creases as a fulcrum and and the endwalls.

to obtain a compression of the cylinder and a rotation of the first andsecond end walls in opposite References Cited directions withoutsubstantially reducing the distance 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS between theend walls and without deforming the end 2 723 779 11/1955 Parker et al222 104 walls, and I a portion of one of the end walls being removableto ROBERT REEVES Primw'y Examme provide an opening in which to insertthe particular N, L, STACK, Assis t Examiner,

